NEWTON COMMONWEALTH GOLF COURSE NEWTON, MA

Date Reviewed: September, 2012

Newton Commonwealth Golf Club originally opened for play in 1897 as the Allston Golf Club, a nine-hole, private club developed by The Commonwealth Club. In 1920, Donald Ross was commissioned to redesign the course, expanding the club to 18-holes. In 1981, the property was purchased by the City of Newton. A majority of the course runs east-west over a moderately sloped, tree-lined hillside. As a result, many holes play through narrow corridors lined by steep slopes, requiring patience to negotiate side hill lies.

Course Rating

Course Layout & Scorecard

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Hole 1

Par 4Hcp

277 | 252 | 23215 | 11

A drive of 220-yards from the tips is ideal, avoiding two bunkers left that pinch the landing area. Longer hitters can challenge the green. Most players will have an approach between 50-75 yards to a small green guarded by sand left and short-right. The safe miss is short as the putting surface is pitched from back-left to front-right.

Hole 2

Par 5Hcp

533 | 476 | 3621 | 1

A drive along the left tree line is ideal, avoiding scattered trees left and a hidden pond right. A solid drive leaves a second between 230-260 yards over a crossing creek to an elevated green protected by a steep grassy slope. Players opting to layup should play to their favorite yardage. The putting surface is pitched from back-to-front.

Hole 3

Par 3Hcp

193 | 179 | 1365 | 9

The third plays uphill from the tee to a wide, but shallow green guarded by sand short-right. The safe miss is short-left as the putting surface is two-tiered, sloping generally from back-right to front-left.

Hole 4

Par 3Hcp

129 | 110 | 9317 | 17

The short fourth plays over a line bunker to a deep, but narrow green. Missing left should be avoided as the green falls away sharply. The putting surface is pitched slightly from back-right to front-left.

Hole 5

Par 5Hcp

455 | 435 | 3753 | 5

A drive along the right tree line is ideal, avoiding scattered trees left and right. A solid drive leaves an uphill, tight second shot between 175-200 yards to a large green guarded by sand left. Players opting to layup should play short of the lone bunker in view (55-yards short of the green). The putting surface is multi-tiered, sloping generally from back-right to front-left.

Hole 6

Par 4Hcp

276 | 255 | 2319 | 7

A drive down the middle is ideal, avoiding scattered trees right and three bunkers left. Longer hitters can challenge the green. Most players will be left with a downhill approach between 40-75 yards to a deep green guarded by a lone bunker and generous mounding. The putting surface is pitched generally from back-to-front with severe internal contours. Lag putting from long range is a challenge on this green.

Hole 7

Par 3Hcp

177 | 162 | 11511 | 13

The seventh plays dramatically downhill from the tee over a crossing brook and three bunkers to a small green. Missing long should be avoided as the putting surface is pitched generously from back-to-front.

Hole 8

Par 5Hcp

488 | 473 | 4487 | 3

A drive right-of-center is ideal as the landing area slopes significantly from right-to-left. A solid drive leaves a semi-blind, uphill second between 200-225 yards that should be played toward the lone Fir Tree in the distance. Players opting to layup should favor the left side of the fairway. The putting surface is pitched generally from right-to-left, guarded by a lone bunker and steep slope left.

Hole 9

Par 3Hcp

210 | 180 | 15513 | 15

The long ninth plays downhill from the tee to a small green guarded by a lone bunker right. The putting surface is bowl-like and receptive to run-up shots.

Hole 10

Par 4Hcp

276 | 259 | 20814 | 14

The short tenth plays uphill from the tee to a narrow landing area that ends 210-yards from the tips. A solid drive leaves a short, uphill approach to a large green guarded by two bunkers short. The putting surface is two-tiered, pitched generously from back-right to front-left.

Hole 11

Par 4Hcp

307 | 295 | 2516 | 6

A drive right-of-center is ideal, avoiding scattered trees right and out-of-bounds left. A solid drive leaves an uphill, semi-blind approach between 80-110 to a deep, angled green guarded by a severe drop-off left. The putting surface is pitched from back-right to front-left.

Hole 12

Par 3Hcp

159 | 148 | 12912 | 12

The short twelfth plays slightly downhill from the tee to a narrow green guarded by sand short-left and a steep drop-off right. The safe miss is short-right as the putting surface is pitched generously from left-to-right.

Hole 13

Par 4Hcp

268 | 263 | 23716 | 16

The short thirteenth plays downhill from the tee to a narrow landing area lined by trees on either side. Longer hitters should note the fairway ends 230-yards from the tips, interrupted by a small pond that guards the front and right side of the green. The putting surface is pitched slightly from back-to-front.

Hole 14

Par 4Hcp

247 | 231 | 21510 | 10

Leave driver in the bag as the fourteenth is narrow and surrounded by trouble. A drive between 160-180 yards along the left tree line is ideal, avoiding water left and out-of-bounds right. A solid drive leaves an approach between 50-75 yards to an elevated green guarded by water left and two bunkers right. The safe miss is short as the putting surface is pitched generously from back-to-front.

Hole 15

Par 5Hcp

451 | 422 | 3548 | 8

A drive down the middle is ideal, avoiding scattered trees left and out-of-bounds right. A solid drive leaves an uphill second between 175-200 yards to a deep, but narrow green guarded by sand short-right and a steep drop-off left. Players opting to layup should play 50-yards short of the green as the fairway narrows considerably. The putting surface is pitched slightly from back-to-front.

Hole 16

Par 3Hcp

152 | 130 | 11118 | 18

The short sixteenth plays slightly uphill from the tee to a large green guarded by sand left and short-right. The putting surface is two-tiered, sloping generously from back-right to front-left.

Hole 17

Par 4Hcp

378 | 367 | 3482 | 2

The challenging seventeenth favors a drive down the middle, avoiding mature trees that line both sides of the landing area. A solid drive leaves an approach between 125-150 yards over a pond to a small green guarded by sand left. The putting surface is pitched slightly from back-left to front-right.

Hole 18

Par 4Hcp

378 | 355 | 3294 | 4

The finishing hole favors a drive played just right of the bridge in view, avoiding four bunkers right and a creek left. A solid drive leaves an approach between 75-100 yards to a small green guarded by sand right and short-left. The safe miss is short as the putting surface is pitched from back-to-front.